For new home builders who have created a home in an historic architectural style, finding windows that work in a period-looking dwelling can be somewhat difficult. A similar problem is faced by those who live in vintage homes. If a window breaks or needs to be replaced, utilizing a modern window will completely destroy the appearance of the exterior and interior of the home that is trying to stick to an historic look. This is why many home builders and home owners turn to salvage antique dealers, who can supply them with architectural windows. There is an appropriate antique window out there that will suit your home and go to enhance its period charm.

The Basics Of Salvage Windows

There are several different antique window glazing patterns that you will find available. Early architectural windows were crafted with several small panes of glazing, because the technology was not available to make large and stable pieces of glass. However, as time marched on, advances in glazing allowed for large glass pieces to be manufactured, and thus you see today's large bay windows and other types of large glazing. Antique window frames can hold many small glazing pieces set on a diagonal, as was popular in the 1600s. Antique window styles in the 1700s and 1800s still had many glazing pieces, but a bit larger and set into a square grid pattern. Three panes tall by four panes wide was common with these architectural windows, as was three over three and two over three patterns. From the mid-1900s and on, larger two over two panes were developed, as were long rectangular-shaped panes, until the modern single pane was created.

Salvage windows also come with different types of sash operations. The salvage windows may be fixed, meaning they do not open, or a double-hung window, of which half slides up. Casement windows open like a cabinet door outward, and sliding windows move from side to side. Hopper windows open inward, and awning windows open outward. Pivot windows open on a central pivot point, and louvered windows have several individual rectangular pieces that open and close in tandem.

If you know the year in which your home was built, and can identify the sash operation as well as the glazing pattern of the existing period windows used in your home, then you will be well on your way to finding matching replacement windows.

Antique window frames can also be filled with stained glass windows. Stained glass windows look beautiful as well as vintage appropriate in Victorian and Craftsman-style homes, but can also be used to embellish other architectural styles as well. The stained glass windows can be used hung inside your existing windows, or can be placed as panel sidelights around a door, or dramatically can lend a highlight to a dome or skylight in the ceiling.

Look for these period windows from salvage antique dealers online.